I am shocked but not surprised by your comments. You, like so many others come running to the defense of the “institution” before jumping in and figuring out how to help the children whose hopes have been crushed by the shuttering of Perlitz’ and Fairfield’s favorite program.

Because this program provided service to the poorest of the poor and despite the fact that Perlitz has been accused of some horrific crimes, none of this negates the need for continuation of the program in Perlitz’ absence. Now more than ever these children need assisatnce.

I believe this is what Paul Kendrick has been trying to promote through Fairfield. Let’s all roll up our sleeves and figure out how to continue the program. Let’s appeal to the large dondors who pulled their money, not because of Perlitz being charged but rather because some on the Board decided to investigate complaints and then decided to remove Perlitz from this post. How outrageous that they did not continue their donations for the sake of the children.

Come on Fairfield and Michael O’Rourke, let’s figure this out and stop abandoning these children. That is what you’re doing now. Fairfiled, the Jesuits and the alum do have a gospel responsibility to these children, even if they did report their abuse. Now is not the time to abandon them, because you’re angry they spoiled your image of the program! This is so typical of Catholics when their image of Church by reports of horrific crimes. Never mind the innocent children who reported being raped or sodomized.

Catholics can always come home? Not if you report sexual abuse within the Catholic Church! Nor if you are Paul Kendrick speaking the truth of abuse.

Now, Fairfield’s Mark Reed is apparently hands off when it comes to desperate Haitian children they once embraced but now abandon — not because of anything the children did, but because institutional concerns for its own reputation outweigh those children’s needs. Use them for self-congratulations apparently, but not genuine outreach.

Shame on Fairfield, the New England Jesuits and the Knights of Malta for shepherding children only when it brings them kudos. Their responsibility should be sharpened, not aborted at the moment of greatest hazard for children forced back into the street. Moreover, those children are castigated for not continuing to allow their bodies to be sexually abused as the price for locals gaining economic benefits.

Fairfield, Jesuits, and the Knights remember not Christ’s admonition, suffer the children to come unto me. They wash their hands and tell the children to go suffer someplace else.

As for Paul Kendrick, he has been going to Haiti for years to minister to the needy. He requires no spiteful, ignorant comments from Mr. O’Rourke regarding his dedication to serving Haitian children.

It is that very dedication that prompts Kendrick to remind Fairfield of its moral and financial responsibility to follow through when its self-protecting maneuvers defy the Gospel. O’Rourke would benefit enormously by seeing in person what has happened to those children, if he dare follow through on his prescription for others.

Fairfield could solicit funds to help those children now left to their own devices. It could acknowledge its concern and marshal resources to bring healing to the innocent faces of Jesus in the name of Jesus.

Recognizing its extended past involvement and current unwillingness to ignore the children’s plight, Fairfield could engage the better angels of its nature, not risk-managing legal counsel.

It could reject numbing bureaucratic superficialities about Fairfield’s “relationship“ with the Haitian charities, and be a voice of integrity.

Their choice, but who is the Good Samaritan here?

It was my intention to focus our discussion on rescuing the hungry and homeless Haitian children who have been forced back into the streets of Cap Haitian because Project Pierre Toussaint is closed. For twelve years, the three major (and proud) financial sponsors of the Project were Fairfield University, The New England Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Order of Malta. Project Pierre Toussaint and Douglas Perlitz quickly became the darling of the University’s Campus Ministry program. University officials at the highest levels took great delight in honoring and publicizing Perlitz and the Haiti Project. Sadly, the very hint of scandal has driven everyone away.

At our meeting, I had hoped to urge (it seems time for a much stronger word) Dr. Reed and Ms. Sudhaker into realizing that the University has an immediate obligation to assist the Project by raising money so that the Project can reopen and have time to get back on its feet.

Dr. Reed’s concerns about lawyers and an independent inquiry are absolute nonsense (see his email). The kids in Haiti need help now — this very minute, in fact. It is quite remarkable to me that not one Fairfield University official has picked up the phone and called Michael McCooey, the Project’s current board chairperson. McCooey has been working diligently (and spending his own money) to keep the school in shape to reopen. It is beyond belief that neither President Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., Dr. Mark Reed, Rev. Michael Doody, S.J. (campus ministry), nor any other University official has contacted Mr. McCooey to say, “Let’s get together for lunch. Let’s talk about how we can once again help these kids.”

Perhaps, we should raise our collective consciousness and focus on the essentials of a Jesuit education. If the service of our faith must include the promotion of justice, is it right and just for the University to abandon a project it helped nourish for so many years?

Paul Kendrick
Fairfield University ‘72
kendrickpt@aol.com

______________________________________________

From: “Reed, Mark” < mcreed@fairfield.edu>
Date: October 28, 2009 17:45:24 EDT
To: “Paul Kendrick” < kendrickpt@aol.com>
Cc: “Sudhakar, Rama” < RSudhakar@fairfield.edu>
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE:

Paul,

I am sorry to inform you that Rama and I will not be able to meet with you next week on Friday, Nov. 6.

As you may be aware, the University retained counsel to conduct an independent inquiry concerning the relationship with The Haiti Fund Inc. and Project Pierre Toussaint. That inquiry is on-going. We have determined that a meeting prior to the conclusion of the inquiry would not serve a constructive purpose.

I certainly apologize for any inconvenience our cancelling our meeting causes you and appreciate your understanding.

Sincerely,

Mark C. Reed
Vice President for Administrative & Student Affairs
Fairfield University
203.254.4000, ext. 2244

My heart goes out to the Haitian boys he lived amongst, given his stated preferences. Rob is right: use the real words like rape and sodomy. Note how Perlitz wanted “boys,” not men in his google searches.

Read and learn. See http://www.connpost.com/breakingnews/ci_13658998

The delay in Perlitz’s attempt to post bond came hours after a federal prosecutor advised the judge that the accused was trolling Internet sites shortly before his Sept. 16 arrest in Colorado, “conducting Google searches” for “gay boys black” “Colorado Haitians” and “africa boyz” and Yahoo searches for “gay black boys,” according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna Patel.

“Moreover, the initial findings indicate that Perlitz’s activities on the computer included access to forum pages which included places where people could post personals, arrange for meetings and identify cruising places,” the prosecutor said.

Finally, congratulations to Paul Kendrick of Maine for his persistent efforts for justice.

Great suggestion Rob but please know that Smolich will no more do the right thing than any bishop in this country. Less than 20 dioceses in this country publish the names, phots and location of priests who have CREDIBLY ACCUSED. They refuse to protect children in their own dioceses, never mind some poor children in Haiti or some other poor country. Do you really think Smolich will act to raise awareness? This is doubtful.

Let’s change our language though. What Perlitz has been accused of is more than some sexually gratification. It is severe violence against the bodies, minds and souls of innocent children. The violence some of these children have reported to have endured was so severe they sought medical care for bleeding from their rectums. Use the real words, not the words of the hierarchs. This is rape, sodomy, sexual assault, and worse against children! For God’s sake!

You should have seen his cocky smirk in the courtroom today.

Each Jesuit University in the USA needs to immediately inform the directors of university-related committees, which have links to humanitarian work in foreign countries, of the charges in the Perlitz-Fairfield-Haiti scandal to prevent this sort of [alleged] sexual gratification from harming third-world children and tarnishing other Jesuit Universities.